The door hasn’t been closed on a future return to the fold for Nottingham Forest defender Steve Cook.
Little more than 12 months after putting pen to paper at the City Ground, the centre-back has been left off the Reds’ 25-man Premier League squad list for the second half of the season. Having made seven signings in the January transfer window, space needed to be made in the Forest squad to accommodate them. Cook, injured duo Omar Richards and Giulian Biancone, and Lewis O’Brien, whose deadline day loan move to Blackburn Rovers collapsed, failed to make the cut.
Cook played an integral part in last season’s promotion success after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal last January, but had been in and out of the team this time around. The arrival of Felipe pushed him further down the pecking order, while it is hoped Moussa Niakhate will soon be able to add to the competition for places at centre-back. But despite making less than 40 appearances for the club, Cook made a lasting impression on supporters and remains well thought of by head coach Steve Cooper.
